Built-in 1385, was the monarchy’s main building project for two centuries, to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians at the battle of Aljubarrota.
A short afternoon is all you need to visit this monstrous unfinished Monastery of Batalha, declared a World Heritage Site, with massive doorways and finely detailed finishings. On the first appearance, you quickly find yourself as an ant among this giant structure which overpowers the town of Batalha.
Enclosed are the tombs of the kings of Portugal, glances from gothic figures and doorways which truly remain an amazing feat of design and skill.
I don’t have much to say about Batalha other than it is an easy stop from Leiria or Fatima and well worth the visit, but not particularly a stop-over.